'Haphazard': Burr Ridge Mayor Criticizes Shopping Center

BURR RIDGE, IL – Burr Ridge's mayor this week took a shot at the owner of the County Line Square. That was before trustees denied an outdoor dining-related request at the shopping center.

Owned by the Garber family, County Line Square requested approval for an already erected awning in front of Great American Bagel, 104 Burr Ridge Parkway.

The awning violates the village's zoning code and was never approved, officials said. It extends over an area larger than the two tables for outdoor dining.

Trustee Guy Franzese said the awning's post, along with a nearby planter, limited pedestrian access on the sidewalk near the store.

"All the other outdoor dining petitioners in County Line Square have complied with the 5-foot rule," he said. "Why should we approve this after the fact after it was installed three years prior and now asking for forgiveness? I can't support it."

Mayor Gary Grasso said the planter was poorly positioned, blocking the path of pedestrians.

"You can see it's not even properly placed," Grasso said. "Typical Garber haphazard way they do things. So let's hold Mr. Garber's feet to the fire."

The Village Board voted unanimously to deny the request, with Trustee Joe Snyder absent.

Grasso noted no shopping center representatives attended the meeting.

During later public comments, Mike Garber, who is part of the owning family, explained that he was not on time because he thought the meeting started at 7 p.m. (The starting time changed to 6:30 p.m. in May. Garber was not alone; another resident said he was late for the same reason.)

Grasso informed Garber of the vote, prompting Garber to ask for a reason.

"It did not conform with our ordinance," the mayor said. "It was put up and then (we were) asked for forgiveness. It was invading the public space, and it was requiring people to go around it. And it impeded the handicapped. Other than that, it was fine."

He said the Garber family could explore the alternatives.

The family has been the target of officials' criticism before.

In 2021, members of the Plan Commission contended the family had failed to handle parking issues at their shopping center. That resulted in several tenants getting zoning exceptions from parking requirements, they said.

The family disagreed parking was a problem.

For the awning issue, the commission last week voted 5-2 in favor of the request.

Editor's note: The story originally said the starting time for Burr Ridge Village Board meetings changed to 6:30 p.m. in February. It was actually in May.